The late afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow across the living room as the twins played on the floor. The faint hum of a children’s show played in the background, but neither of them was paying attention. Amelia was busy dressing her dolls in tiny, sparkling outfits, humming softly to herself, while Elliott had his dinosaur figurines spread out in a carefully crafted battle formation.
It was the kind of moment Isabelle cherished—simple, peaceful.
And she was about to ruin it.
She took a steadying breath, lowering herself onto the couch, folding her hands in her lap to keep them from fidgeting. “Hey, my loves,” she said gently. “Can we talk for a second?”
Amelia glanced up first, her big brown eyes curious. Elliott followed, shifting his dinosaurs aside as
